Flooding caused by heavy rains, along Moi road, in Nakuru town will soon be history following the ongoing rehabilitation of the stormwater drainage system.

The Nakuru Municipal Board and the Department of Road are rehabilitating the stormwater drain between Posta and the County Headquarters offices along Moi Road.

The 150 Meters stretch project will cost Sh 2 million and is expected to be complete by July 2021.

Scope of works entails removal and reinstatement of culverts, opening up of blocked drains, provision of cover slabs to drain from Posta and Telkom offices and cabro works at Telkom house frontage.

“Among the areas the drainage system has been rehabilitated include the Central Business District, Kiamurogi, Kipkelion and Mombasa roads among others,” said the Municipal Manager Mr Gitau Thabanja.

He said the Municipal Board, under the leadership of H.E Governor Lee Kinyanjui, is also working to improve the drainage system in other parts of the Municipality.

Mr Thabanja further revealed the Board intends to construct Non-Motorized Transport (NMT) and install street lights along with the CBD, which he said, is at the design stage.

Globally, the increased uses of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to secondary environmental catastrophes, if not well managed and disposed of.

However, in Nakuru County, a microwave incinerator at the Nakuru Level 5 Hospital has come in handy in ensuring a safe disposal system of the PPEs and other hazardous wastes to save the environment and protect the public from impending health threats.

The Shs90 million Healthcare Waste Management Microwave and Shredder Machine was installed in 2018 through a collaboration between the County and the National Government with a grant from the Belgium government.

Chief Public Health Officer at the Nakuru Level 5 Hospital, Ms Florence Basweti said the hospital used to burn its waste in open pits and would attract human and animal scavengers. She added that the machine that treats over 250- 300 Kgs of waste per hour has improved the hospital’s general cleanliness.

The Hospital’s Medical Superintendent Dr Aisha Maina said the inadequate and inappropriate handling of healthcare waste may have serious public health consequences such as Cancers and a significant impact on the general environment.

Dr Aisha said the machine has helped the biggest referral facility in the region manage PPEs disposal from its COVID-19 isolation and treatment facilities. She added that the machine also manages waste from private and learning facilities in the County and has safely handled 1,005 tonnes of medical waste in the last three years.

Mr John Ochieng, a machine operator at the facility said all workers are well kitted and trained on waste and machine handling to avert disease transmission and hazardous chemical exposure while at work.

He explained that the emerging microwave technology treats biohazardous waste through shredding and later sterilized in sets of microwaves and heated in chambers with temperatures of above 100 degrees to set safety standards and beyond before the waste is safely disposed or recycled by making fencing poles.

In 2016, the County was on the spot after private facilities dumped hazardous raw medical waste at the Giotto Dumpsite in Nakuru Town West sub-County. About 10 – 25 per cent of the medical wastes – sharps, blood transfusion catheters, cotton swabs, human tissues – are highly infectious.

A team from KeNHA today joined county engineers and physical planners on an assessment tour of the much-awaited Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit Highway.

The team led by Project Manager Eng. Kefa Seda made several stops analysing the road and explaining the proposed works that will bring the highway to reality.

The first stop was at Njabini flyover which is the border between Nakuru and Nyandarua Counties. The team then stopped at Gilgil weighbridge where a toll station is expected to be set up.

CEC Roads Eng. Rueben Maritim, welcomed the idea adding that there was existing infrastructure at the weighbridge to support a toll station.

At Kikopey centre, the contractor informed the team that two service lanes and truck bays will be constructed on both sides of the road. To ensure the safety of the pedestrians in the busy area, the contractor proposed a footbridge overpass.

At the same time, two interchanges will be built 5km north and south of Kikopey centre to allow motorists to stop for the well-acclaimed roast meat.

Eng. Maritim said the County would provide data on the estimated number of trucks that park at the centre to guide designs for the proposed truck bays.

At the Section 58 interchange, the contractor explained that another road would be constructed on top of the existing one to create a ‘double-decker’ view.

The last stop was the Salgaa centre where another toll station will be constructed.

Eng. Maritim asked the contractor and KENHA to consider the construction of a truck parking area that will accommodate the trucks that stop-over at Salgaa.

The County Government of Nakuru has continuously provided youth with opportunities for economic empowerment to enable them to create decent wealth.

Youth empowerment is significant in improving the economy of the county, reduce crime, drug abuse and addressing the issues of youth unemployment.

H.E Governor Lee Kinyanjui’s administration is set to launch a youth economic empowerment program on Wednesday 26th June 2021 in Bahati Sub County.

The program will entail the distribution of trade items include motorcycles, incubators, carwash machines, water tanks, fishing nets, generators, full saloon kits, motorcycle umbrellas among other things.

Today, the Department of youth held a sensitization meeting with Sub County Administrators and Ward administrators on criteria required during the process of selecting beneficiaries.

Public Service Training and Devolution CECM Ms Jacqueline Osoro urged the officers to ensure a transparent selection process at the Ward level.

She highlighted that the program will bridge the economic divide among the youth which has been on the rise due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Also present was Chief officer Youth, Dr William Migwe and Chief Officer Public Service Training &Devolution, Mr Paul Githinji and Youth Empowerment Advisor Paul Ndirangu.

Pyrethrum seed multiplication is key to ensure the production of clean planting material as well as the growth of the value chain.

The County has distributed 7,500 pyrethrum tissue culture materials to farmer groups in Elementaita and Eburru-Mbaruk wards in Gilgil sub-county.

The effort is geared towards bridging the gap of inadequate clean planting materials and the production of quality flowers of high pi content.

Nakuru County currently has over 1,500 acres under pyrethrum since the launch of the revival program in 2018 by H.E Governor Lee Kinyanjui.

To support our farmers, the County will distribute 80,000 pyrethrum tissue culture material, 1.6 litres of nematicide pesticide, 16 watering cans and gloves as well as 8-50 kg bags of TSP fertilizer.

This is expected to translate into 4 acres in pyrethrum nurseries across pyrethrum growing sub-counties under the ASDSP II program.

In addition to that, 240,000 pyrethrum seedlings have been distributed to Kiptororo ward, Kuresoi North sub-county bringing the total seedlings distributed this financial year to 500,000 seedlings.

Currently, the value chain has received funding of over Ksh. 45 million with over 8.5 million seedlings distributed last year to a tune of Ksh. 26.8 million.

The County has distributed 80 beehives (40 Langstroth hives and 40 Kenya Top Bar Hives), 10 bee suits, four manual honey extractors, 40 gumboots, and 350 spades to farmer groups in Elementaita Ward, Gilgil sub-county under the farm input support program.

As the County celebrates World Bee Day today, it is key to note that the County is putting tremendous efforts into apiary systems to ensure the support of sustainable development goals of helping to ensure food security for the world’s population and protection, restoration and promotion of sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

This is through the already existing projects launched in the County, under the leadership of H.E Governor Lee Kinyanjui, including pyrethrum revival, crop diversification and local chicken stimulus projects.

The apiary equipment distribution is part of the County’s support in increasing bee population as farmers will now set up additional apiaries hence attracting more bees, key in pollination thus increasing yields.

The exercise was led by Ag. Director Livestock production, Ms Virginiah Ngunjiri together with other County officials.
Although the use of pesticides is inevitable, Ms Ngunjiri advised the farmers to uptake best practices while handling the pesticides to ensure honey safety and the health of bees.

The County Government is also training farmers on bee forage, plants that bees prefer, in addition to collaborating with partners like Egerton University in the development of apiculture and the latter have lent their expertise in the rearing of queen bees to help increase bee population (colonies).

Last week the County distributed 10 incubators accompanied by backup generators and voltage regulators, over 2,300 fertilized eggs, 36 spraying pumps, and 35-50litre stainless steel milking cans to groups in Elementaita ward, Gilgil sub-county.

County Executive Committee Members (CECs) and Chief Officers(COs) from the County Government of Nakuru today underwent training on the acceptable procurement practices as guided by the law.

The training was carried out by a team of experts from the National Treasury and Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA).

Yesterday, technical personnel from Finance and Procurement Department concluded a two-day training that would help them observe the Law outlined in the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015.

This was facilitated by Governor Lee Kinyanjui’s administration together with the National Treasury to ensure professionalism and compliance with the law in all undertakings.

The Training was largely on the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, Compliance of procurement laws and Department procedures, that give guidelines on employment, awarding of tenders, proper use of public resources, and purchase of supplies.

Speaking at the event, the County Minister in Charge of Finance Dr Peter Ketyenya said the training clarified what the law says about the spending of public funds or procurement processes.

He added that the training would build the capacity of the County officials to improve service delivery within the County.

Governor Lee Kinyanjui has ensured strict adherence to the third rule which encourages the creation of opportunities for special groups such as PWDs, Youth and Women as stipulated in Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO).